Municipal courts operational
Courts collect admission of guilt payments on fines.
HIGHVELD – Govan Mbeki Municipality has finalised negotiations for the opening of the Municipal Courts within its area of jurisdiction.
The courts will be based in Secunda, Evander and Bethal, where the current magistrate’s courts are located.
The Municipal Court will be using the current court systems and are responsible for the processing and adjudication of all municipal related cases filed by the respective law enforcement agencies in the municipality, among others law enforcement, traffic officers, land use management, building control and municipal by-law cases filed by the police.
The Municipal Court is a branch court of the magistrate’s court and therefore adheres to all legislative requirements and guidelines stipulated by the Department of Justice and Correctional Services and stipulated by the National Prosecuting Authority.
It is obliged to manage court processes in conjunction with the magistrate’s courts, according to the legislative requirements stipulated in the Magistrate’s Court Act, (Act 23 of 1944), the Criminal Procedures Act, (Act 51 of 1977) and applicable guidelines issued by the Judiciary from time-to-time.
It also collects admission of guilt payments on fines issued by the respective law enforcement agencies.
Its primary function is to provide a modern and well-run court service in support of an effective criminal justice system and to build and sustain public confidence that all communities will be served fairly.
It endeavours to expedite fair and reliable adjudication of municipal by-laws, municipal legislation, road traffic legislation and other municipal related cases filed by providing support services to the National Prosecution Authority and the Department of Justice in order to reduce backlogs in the criminal justice system.
For more information, contact Mr Sailor Netshivhale, manager of Legal Services and Municipal Courts, at 017 620 6256 or Adv Motsepe at 017 620 6063.
